Hronis Racing

As noted by colleague Bill Finley earlier in the week, we've just passed the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's sophomore debut. Yet even two years ago hardly anyone had heard of an unraced son of Tapit, meanwhile acclaimed by many as the best American Thoroughbred since. Okay, so he had been a seven-figure yearling; and everyone who had participated in his education knew that he was something special. In fact, John Sadler was so aware of the impending responsibility that he was saying nothing. For one thing, if people had any...

Flightline not only garnered the Older Dirt Male Eclipse Award, but his impressive performances throughout 2022 earned him the right at this coveted prize—Horse of the Year. FLIGHTLINE We may never see another one quite like him again. Crowned as Longines World's Best Racehorse in London last week, Flightline, to absolutely no one's surprise, added Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male honors at Thursday evening's Eclipse Awards. The unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' ran to his unworldly reputation and then some by concluding his six-for-six career with a...

Combatant (Scat Daddy--Border Dispute, by Boundary) was represented by his first foal when Sadie's Song (Unbridled's Song) produced a filly by the late Grade I winner at Waldorf Farm Jan. 21. The filly was bred by McConnell Racing. Combatant won the 2020 GI Santa Anita H. and was second in that year's GII San Pasqual S. in the colors of Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. He was also second in the 2018 GIII Southwest S. and third in that year's GII Rebel S. After standing his first season at...

Lexington, KY - While the Flightline connections have been busy at the Keeneland November Sale assembling a powerhouse group of mares to send to their new stallion, the superstar himself has been settling into his new home at Lane's End Farm. 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit - Feathered, by Indian Charlie) arrived at the Versailles-based breeding operation less than 24 hours after he cemented his place in history in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Accompanied by John Sadler's assistant and exercise rider Juan Leyva and barn foreman Cesar Aguilar,...

Park Avenue (Quality Road) (Hip 478) will join the elite broodmare band at Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm after hammering for $1.45 million during the opening session of KEENOV's Book 2 Tuesday. The 4-year-old was consigned by Lane's End for Hronis Racing, one of Lyon's partners on her homebred superstar Flightline (Tapit), who is one of the possible mates for this new acquisition. Park Avenue has several black-type placings to her credit, including a second in the GIII La Canada S.

While a decision regarding whether or not superstar Flightline (Tapit) will buck industry trends and return to the races next year as a 5-year-old will not be made until after the Breeders' Cup, co-owner Bill Farish said he is open to the idea of bringing the horse back for a 2023 campaign. Farish is just one of five owners, but his opinion could carry more weight than that of his partners. Farish is the general manager of Lane's End Farm, where Flightline will stand at stud after his racing career...

It turns out Flightline (Tapit) isn't only fast horse Hronis Racing has in the John Sadler barn, as Bran (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}) set a new course record of 1:07.41 for the six furlongs of the GII FanDuel Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. A "Win and You're In" event for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the $1 million race was being contested for the 24th time and was Sadler's first win at the Franklin, Ky. track after just a handful of starts. At 11-1, Bran broke uneventfully and sat...

Kosta Hronis joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to share what the experience is like to be a co-owner in superstar Flightline and noted that there was a "great possibility" that the son of Tapit would race in 2023 rather than beginning his stallion career.

It appears that the door is open more than just a crack when it comes to whether or not racing's superstar Flightline (Tapit) will race next year as a 5-year-old. Appearing as the Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's Thoroughbred Daily News Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Kosta Hronis, a co-owner of Flightline, said there was a "great possibility" that Flightline would race in 2023 rather than beginning his stallion career. "Just like with Stellar Wind (Curlin), which we left on the track an extra year,...

Following Flightline (Tapit)'s jaw-dropping victory in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar Saturday, breeder Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm has decided to withdraw the star colt's half-brother by Curlin from next week's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The yearling, who is named Eagles Flight, had been catalogued as hip 243 with the Lane's End consignment. "I had a feeling when Flightline did what he did [in the Pacific Classic] that it was going to be pretty hard for her to part with him," said Lane's End's Bill Farish, confirming...

The $1-million question heading into Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI TVG Pacific Classic was if unbeaten superstar Flightline (Tapit) could handle the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance. Here's a scary thought: he may be even better going longer. Stopping the timer just .17 seconds off Candy Ride (Arg)'s track record for 10 furlongs established in the 2003 renewal, the dominating last out GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. winner absolutely crushed his five rivals by a geared-down record margin of 19 1/4 lengths--yes, you read that correctly--in a performance for...

First year stallion and 2020 G1 Santa Anita H. winner Combatant (Scat Daddy-Border Dispute, by Boundary) has died suddenly from colic in Chile. He had just begun Southern Hemisphere stud duties at Haras Porta Pia. Combatant stood his first year at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, NY. Earner of over a million in his racing career, one which saw him annex the Big Cap and pick up minor honors in six other graded contests, Combatant was a $320,000 yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds at KEESEP in 2016. He placed in the...